What if? Scotland's steps to independence

[Lite Beer]

INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM
What if? Scotland's steps to independence

No vote posters are seen in a window during a Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland march in Edinburgh, on September 13, 2014//AFP

With polls showing Scotland's upcoming independence referendum too close to call, the rest of the United Kingdom is starting to consider seriously the implications of a "Yes" victory.

A pro-independence vote would be a global sensation but would change little in the immediate term, except perhaps boost calls for British Prime Minister David Cameron to resign.

But the vote would sound the starting gun for complex talks between the British and Scottish governments on separating two deeply interlinked economies and political systems with three centuries of shared history, finally leading to full independence.

The Scottish National Party (SNP) government has already set the date of March 24, 2016 -- the 309th anniversary of the Acts of Union between England and Scotland -- for a division that would cut the United Kingdom’s landmass by a third and its population by around eight per cent.

Scotland would be the first independent state created in Europe since the bloody disintegration of Yugoslavia and the world’s newest country since South Sudan in 2011.

Much of what happens between a "Yes" vote on Thursday and 2016 is uncertain, as is the question of whether Scotland could continue to be a member of the European Union as an independent entity, or whether it would have to start again and re-apply.

The Scottish government has said the first step taken "soon after a vote for independence" would be to seek a formal transfer of powers to the Scottish parliament to establish "the constitutional platform for an independent Scotland".

It said it would also start pre-independence talks with the EU "to settle the terms of an independent Scotland’s continuing membership" -- even though outgoing European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso has warned this would be "extremely difficult".

The date of Britain’s next general election -- scheduled for May 2015, when the current five-year mandate runs out -- could be put back if there is an independence vote, as lawmakers from Scotland could only sit in parliament for the relatively short time before full independence.

The consensus among analysts is that the election would not be delayed but that newly-elected Scottish MPs would not be allowed to vote on any laws solely concerning other parts of the UK.

Here are the main practical steps that would likely be taken on the path to Scotland becoming entirely separate:

-- Oil and gas: The North Sea offshore fields would likely be divided up geographically and the government in Edinburgh would move quickly to assert control.

- Eighty-five per cent of known reserves in the area are in what would be Scottish waters and the sector would make up around 15 per cent of the new Scotland’s economy.

- Sharing debt, currency: A key economic question will be how to share out Britain’s #1.4 trillion (1.8 trillion euros, $2.3 trillion) debt. The Scottish government has said this could be divided on the basis of population share or of Scotland’s historic contribution to Britain’s public finances.

- Scotland would continue using the pound in the coming months, but what happens after full independence is in doubt as the British government has excluded a currency union.

The most likely option currently seems to be that Scotland would use the pound without a formal agreement with Britain or a say in policy -- like Panama using the US dollar, or Kosovo using the euro.

- Constitution: The Scottish government has also said it wants a convention bringing together businesses, civil society and trade unions to come up with a written constitution along European lines, something that Britain lacks.

It has said this should include a constitutional ban on nuclear weapons being based in Scotland and wants take steps to order out Britain’s Trident nuclear submarines currently based at the Faslane naval base near Glasgow by 2020.

- Border: The issue is complex as Scotland’s plan to ease immigration rules might prompt the rest of Britain to set up barriers and checks. The SNP also says that no passports would be required for visitors from the rest of the UK to Scotland and vice versa -- much like the current arrangement with Ireland -- although that will depend on whether Scotland is part of the EU.

- Keep the monarchy: The SNP has said it wants the new Scotland to be a constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II as its sovereign -- much like Canada -- and has said it would join the Commonwealth.

The queen herself is staying neutral in the debate and can rest assured there would be no change in the status of her beloved summer residence of Balmoral in northeast Scotland, which she owns privately.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/What-if-Scotlands-steps-to-independence-30243257.html

[thenation][/thenation]

[ldnguy]

This article is out if date. Far from being too close to call, a no vote is a forgone conclusion. No hope whatsoever of the yes side winning.

[chiang mai]

That's not what the current view is, it remains very close and uncertain.

[h90]

Interesting is that foreigner in Scotland can also vote. Doesn't sound logic if some Germans in Scotland can vote....

There was an article in "der spiegel" about what the Germans in Scotland vote for.

(Think of a part of Thailand want to separate and Myanmar and Cambodians are also allowed to vote.....)

Good luck for Scotland.......I always liked the people! Cameron, Blair...who want to be under these?

[Scott]

A post with an oversized graphic has been removed. This messes up the formatting of the page and makes reading posts difficult.

[Ulysses G.]

This article is out if date. Far from being too close to call, a no vote is a forgone conclusion. No hope whatsoever of the yes side winning.

Not according the the experts. It is too close to call.

[smokie36]

This article is out if date. Far from being too close to call, a no vote is a forgone conclusion. No hope whatsoever of the yes side winning.

How laughable.....perhaps your main source of information is the BBC World Service.

[jpinx]

Not another Scottish Independence topic ?

Can the previous one two be closed with a re-direct ?

Edited September 14, 2014 by jpinx

[transam]

The vote hasn't happened yet......Gawd.............

Nobody knows anything about the outcome, yet......

[smokie36]

The vote hasn't happened yet......Gawd.............

Nobody knows anything about the outcome, yet......

At least you have moved on from the end less questions which can't be answered until a YES vote.

Its nice to see the English being educated.......so transam....its time for another impassioned plea but no mention of the war this time Basil.

Off you go.......

[CRUNCHER]

Will there be a Scottish embassy in Bangkok?

[Pikeybkk]

This article is out if date. Far from being too close to call, a no vote is a forgone conclusion. No hope whatsoever of the yes side winning.

funny that...telegraph poll puts yes at 54% and no at 46%, lets hope they get their independence...good luck Scotland

[MJP]

It's all a bit of gamble this . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nrmcxa1yBec

[jpinx]

Will there be a Scottish embassy in Bangkok?

Why not? Or maybe a consulate - same as Ireland and other smaller countries.

[smokie36]

Will there be a Scottish embassy in Bangkok?

Why not? Or maybe a consulate - same as Ireland and other smaller countries.

If things go well we'll have a cafe out front selling Lorne sausage rolls and mugs of tea.

I reckon it will be a hit with the locals.

[robertthebruce]

Will there be a Scottish embassy in Bangkok?

There already is.... In our Pub...

And our views are if, "Monte Carlo" can do,it, so can Scotland.......

[jpinx]

Mmmmm Chillie Lorne sausage

[Cuchulainn]

AYE!!

Edited September 14, 2014 by Cuchulainn

[robertthebruce]

Will there be a Scottish embassy in Bangkok?

Why not? Or maybe a consulate - same as Ireland and other smaller countries.

If things go well we'll have a cafe out front selling Lorne sausage rolls and mugs of tea.

I reckon it will be a hit with the locals.

Rowies also, Kippers , Yellow Fish, Buckies, Tripe,Stovies, washed down with Irun Bru.....

The place would be Heaving....

[smokie36]

Mmmmm Chillie Lorne sausage

Will there be fresh chilli sauce to add?

You bet your life....this is the Scottish consulate.....you can have a double helping with a smile!

[smokie36]

Will there be a Scottish embassy in Bangkok?

Why not? Or maybe a consulate - same as Ireland and other smaller countries.

If things go well we'll have a cafe out front selling Lorne sausage rolls and mugs of tea.

I reckon it will be a hit with the locals.

Rowies also, Kippers , Yellow Fish, Buckies, Tripe,Stovies, washed down with Irun Bru.....

The place would be Heaving....

Rowies might be pushing it but smokies are a certainty for lunch.....the Thais would love em with ginger and garlic.....

[robertthebruce]

Will there be a Scottish embassy in Bangkok?

Why not? Or maybe a consulate - same as Ireland and other smaller countries.

If things go well we'll have a cafe out front selling Lorne sausage rolls and mugs of tea.

I reckon it will be a hit with the locals.

Rowies also, Kippers , Yellow Fish, Buckies, Tripe,Stovies, washed down with Irun Bru.....

The place would be Heaving....

Rowies might be pushing it but smokies are a certainty for lunch.....the Thais would love em with ginger and garlic.....

I would personally make sure all the staff are from Dundee, as that's where most of the Lookers come from, Broughty Ferry and Tayport, ....

[smokie36]

That's not Dundee.. .whew I thought you were joking for a minute.

If I was negotiating I would insist England keep Dundee. :-P

[schweizer]

If I were a Scot and living there the first thing I would do is get rid of the paranoid delusional idiot called Alex Salmond, I am bored of his conspiracy theories and expect better from the leading statesman of a country than name calling and paranoia,

Scotland will initially go through some storms if this goes ahead but like all countries they will weather them,

do yourself a favor though, think long and hard before jumping into the EU pool, you will be a small country by EU standards, subject to German/French/English bullying so don't get your "freedom" and give it away the next day to a new master

Edited September 14, 2014 by schweizer

[robertthebruce]

That's not Dundee.. .whew I thought you were joking for a minute.

If I was negotiating I would insist England keep Dundee. :-P

What.... ???? You ain't been to the Well gate Centre...., it's like Rodeo Drive in L.A. , whenever I am in Dundee it takes me about ten minutes to adjust to the lingo, but always manage to get a good tuck in at the Chippie on the Perth Road.....

[smokie36]

That's not Dundee.. .whew I thought you were joking for a minute.

If I was negotiating I would insist England keep Dundee. :-P

What.... ???? You ain't been to the Well gate Centre...., it's like Rodeo Drive in L.A. , whenever I am in Dundee it takes me about ten minutes to adjust to the lingo, but always manage to get a good tuck in at the Chippie on the Perth Road.....

Turn right at the bridge and report your findings lol....

[robertthebruce]

That's not Dundee.. .whew I thought you were joking for a minute.

If I was negotiating I would insist England keep Dundee. :-P

What.... ???? You ain't been to the Well gate Centre...., it's like Rodeo Drive in L.A. , whenever I am in Dundee it takes me about ten minutes to adjust to the lingo, but always manage to get a good tuck in at the Chippie on the Perth Road.....

Turn right at the bridge and report your findings lol....

OK... But I need to go to "Downfield" first for a Wallace's Pie.....

[smokie36]

A peeeeeeeeeeee

[robertthebruce]

A peeeeeeeeeeee

Spot on... Was not sure how to spell it, but can pronounce it down to a tee...a Peeeeeeeeeee.....

Ehhhhhhhhhhh........ Meeeeeeeeeeeee

[robertthebruce]

My Father always used to say, the best thing about Dundee, was the Road OUT.....